asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that a meeting of the Edgeworthstown Town Tenants' Association held on 5th November, 1934, passed a resolution inviting the intervention of the Irish Republican Army in the Sanderson Estate dispute and that a further meeting of the same association held on 20th November, 1934, passed a resolution inviting the Irish Republican Army to hold a public meeting in Edgeworthstown on 2nd December; whether these facts were published in the Longford Leader of 24th November, 1934, and were otherwise brought to the attention of the authorities; and whether any officer of the Department of Justice or of the Gárda Síochána took any and, if so, what action in connection with the above proceedings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - I.R.A. and Longford Estate Dispute.
The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the third part, the Gárda Síochána took all the measures regarded as necessary to prevent a breach of the peace on the occasion of the meeting of 2nd December, 1934.
asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that a public meeting was held at Edgeworthstown on 2nd December, 1934, under the auspices of the Irish Republican Army in connection with the Sanderson Estate dispute and that incitements to violence were uttered at this meeting; whether the Gárda Síochána were present and reported same to their superior officers; whether a report of some of such incitements appeared subsequently in the local Press; and whether any and, if so, what action was taken in the matter by any officer of the Department of Justice or of the Gárda Síochána prior to the murder of Mr. R. More O'Ferrall.
The answer to the first, second and third parts of the question is in the affirmative. The incitements uttered at the meeting were not regarded as serious. There was nothing at the time to show that they had had, or were likely to have, any inflammatory effect on public feeling in the locality, and it was not felt that any special action against the speakers was necessary.
They were not made in a Cork accent.
Was there no report received of the intention to leave only one tree growing on the estate for the purpose of hanging Mr. More O'Ferrall? Does the President not consider that an inflammatory speech?
I think I have stated, in answer to the question, that there was nothing at the time to show that they had, or were likely to have, any inflammatory effect on public feeling in the locality, and it was not felt that any special action against the speakers was necessary. The incitements uttered at the meeting were not regarded as serious.
I find the answers to both Question 9 and Question 10 very unsatisfactory and I propose, with your permission, Sir, to raise the matter on the adjournment to-morrow night.